Do You Expect Tinubu To Give You Yam?” – Nwaebonyi Challenges Nigerians

Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has urged Nigerians to embrace agriculture and increase food production rather than depend solely on markets for their daily needs.

According to Ireporter Online, Nwaebonyi made the remarks during an interview on The Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, where he discussed rising food prices and the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The senator, who represents Ebonyi North Senatorial District, argued that the Federal Government could not be held solely responsible for the prices of food items in the market, stressing that citizens also have a role to play in addressing the situation.

Nwaebonyi questioned whether Nigerians expected President Tinubu to personally regulate the prices of garri and other food items or provide yam for families to eat.

He encouraged citizens with access to land and the necessary resources to engage in farming, arguing that increased local production would reduce dependence on markets and eventually bring down food prices.

The lawmaker said citizens should hold the government accountable for providing essential infrastructure and creating an environment that allows people to become productive.

He pointed to roads, electricity, education and healthcare as areas where government responsibility remained important, while insisting that citizens should also contribute by producing what they could.

Nwaebonyi, who identified himself as a farmer, cited his personal agricultural activities in Ebonyi State as an example. He said he recently received 22 tubers of yam from his farm and claimed that he produces most of the food he consumes, purchasing mainly vegetables from the market.

The senator maintained that greater agricultural production would increase food supply and ultimately contribute to lower prices.

He also defended the Tinubu administration against criticism over the rising cost of living, arguing that economic hardship and poverty were not peculiar to Nigeria.

Nwaebonyi further praised the administration’s infrastructure efforts, particularly its road construction projects, saying the government had made notable progress in improving Nigeria’s road network.

He maintained that while Nigerians should demand accountability from the government, individuals must also take responsibility by becoming more productive and contributing to food production.